Data Analyst - Power BI

Role: Data Analyst - Power BI Location: Hybrid, onsite 3 days/week in Minneapolis, MN Rate: $65.34/hour W2 Position Summary We are seeking a Data Analyst - Power BI to design and build real-time and near real-time dashboards that enhance the client's situational awareness capabilities. This role involves transforming curated Delta Lake data—queried via Azure Synapse serverless SQL pools or Azure SQL—into compelling, actionable visuals hosted in the Power BI GCC (Government Cloud) environment. The analyst will collaborate closely with the Operations team to translate requirements into user-focused reports, while operating within GCC constraints (no Microsoft Fabric). Key Responsibilities • Develop new Power BI dashboards and reports to surface KPIs, alerts, and trends for operations and leadership. • Use appropriate visuals (tables, cards, gauges, ArcGIS maps, etc.) to communicate status and support decision-making. • Implement DirectQuery connections, push/streaming datasets, or incremental refresh to enable real-time or near real-time updates. • Optimize data models for performance and freshness within GCC limitations. • Build efficient semantic models in Power BI Desktop and author complex DAX measures (e.g., time intelligence, rolling metrics, conditional alerts). • Write and tune SQL queries against Synapse serverless SQL pools and Azure SQL to shape datasets and validate data. • Collaborate with Data Engineers to request or create curated views as needed. • Gather and refine dashboard requirements with Operations stakeholders; iterate on prototypes and incorporate feedback. • Validate data accuracy before publishing; reconcile discrepancies by tracing back to curated sources and coordinating with engineers/MDM users. • Work with the data architect to configure gateways, data sources, and workspace settings for GCC. Required Qualifications • Minimum 3 years of experience building enterprise dashboards using Power BI (Desktop & Service). • Expert-level proficiency in DAX and Power Query (M). • Advanced T-SQL skills for query design, tuning, and data validation. • Proven experience delivering real-time or streaming Power BI solutions (DirectQuery, push datasets, Stream Analytics). • Familiarity with Azure Synapse serverless SQL pools, Delta Lake tables, and Azure SQL. • Strong data visualization and UI/UX instincts; ability to translate operational scenarios into clear visuals. • Experience working in Microsoft GCC or other government/regulated cloud environments. Preferred Qualifications • Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300) or Azure Enterprise Data Analyst (DP-500) certification. • Exposure to geospatial visuals or ArcGIS for Power BI. • Understanding of metadata-driven data lakehouse architectures and medallion patterns.